Commercial Red Meat Production Up 2 Percent from Last Year
- March 2025 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
- March 2026 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.51 billion pounds in March, up 2 percent from the 4.42 billion pounds produced in March 2025.
Beef production, at 2.10 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.34 million head, down 6 percent from March 2025. The average live weight was up 45 pounds from the previous year, at 1,471 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.7 million pounds, 16 percent below March a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 8,300 head, down 23 percent from March 2025. The average live weight was up 32 pounds from last year, at 359 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.40 billion pounds, up 7 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.0 million head, up 6 percent from March 2025. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 292 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 12.1 million pounds, was down 6 percent from March 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled 197,200 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 121 pounds, down 6 pounds from March a year ago.
January to March 2026 commercial red meat production was 13.2 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2025.
Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last year, veal was down 24 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 3 percent.
